TAWAU: Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the goat farming project undertaken by Koperasi Usaha Sejahtera Tawau Berhad (KUSTB) demonstrates the potential of cooperatives to grow into competitive commercial enterprises that contribute to local economic development.
He said developing the agri-food sector through cooperatives not only creates opportunities for communities to increase their incomes but also serves as a catalyst for more comprehensive rural development.
“The government, through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), will continue to support efforts to strengthen the cooperative movement so that it becomes one of the country’s key contributors to economic growth.
“Projects like this prove that cooperatives have the capability to generate sustainable economic activities while helping to strengthen the national food security agenda,” he said after a working visit to KUSTB here on Saturday.
During the visit, Mohamad was briefed on the progress of the goat farming project, including its farm management, production capacity, operational challenges and future expansion plans.
He also toured the farm and interacted with cooperative members to observe the project’s implementation and obtain feedback on the potential of the goat farming industry as a viable source of economic growth.
Mohamad said he was proud to see the commitment shown by cooperative members in developing commercial goat farming enterprises, particularly the active involvement of young people who are willing to venture into the agri-food sector as entrepreneurs.
He said the participation of the younger generation demonstrates that modern livestock farming and agriculture continue to offer significant prospects for producing competitive entrepreneurs, while creating more job opportunities and increasing community incomes.
In this regard, he urged more cooperatives nationwide to take advantage of the financing facilities, training programmes and development initiatives provided by KUSKOP and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM).
According to him, the adoption of modern technology, improvements in productivity and the production of value-added products must be prioritised to ensure cooperatives remain resilient in an increasingly challenging economic environment.
“When cooperatives prosper, the benefits are not limited to their members. They also generate positive economic spillovers for local communities through employment opportunities, increased incomes and stronger food supply chains,” he said.
At the same time, Mohamad reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative ecosystem in line with the aspirations of the NationalCooperative Policy (DaKoM) 2030, which aims to develop a progressive, innovative, resilient and high-impact cooperative movement that contributes to the well-being of the people and the nation’s prosperity.
Also present were Sabah Malaysian Cooperative Commission director Awang Russli Mohamad and representatives of cooperative movements from Sabah’s East Coast Zone.